Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-10-22
..Tbe sDoiIsmen."

Mr. NJ. Geougb, ofthe committee appoint
ed he the democrats Of B1ston TO Inquire
and reuort how many offensive republican
nartissns Of Massachusetts are retaired in
federal Office by the democratic admiiistra-
sion. made speech "Wednesday night IL
Faneuil Hall to crowded and applauding
audience, in which he said
s.Whatever may be said to tho contrary,
the democratic party of Massachusetts be-
l;eQes in an honest civl-service reform. l.
hos been the constant demand of the party
for more than twenty five years, and was he
nat democrat who first emphasized aud
gave living force to the now famous decla-
ration q pubic Office is public trust-a
trust to be administered, not in the interest
of apv party or class of men. but for the ben
eft Of the entire country. This is the doc
trine Of ciVil.servics reform to which the
democratic party Of Massachusetts plainly
subscribes. and BY which we mean 10 abide.
| What is the record Of the republican party
on this question? Well, as meu.6er of the
80 called smelling committee, have reason
10 know. For FIVE or six weeks consecu'
lively we pursued our somewhat difficult
and unsavory investigation. We went
down among the haunts and ancient strong
holds of republcanism. We dug up the
putrd bones OF republican secrets. They
aid rot like il and they called US hard
names, but we kept right on, and, if l may
indulge 10 tue elegant phrase they claim to
have invented and seem 10 be so proud OF,
we found the 'rankest combination of vii
lajnous smells that ever offended political
nostii!s.' Just think of it for moment.
tveaty five years 100 900 oficeholders and
more, with q host of subcrdinstes drawing
fronl the national treasury millions Of the
peoples money every year, never.
falling source of party supplies, scatter.
Cd throughout the country as go many
emit agencies, aud acting conformity
with their national, State, city and district
committees, they covered The Union as with
Oh amy organized for conquest and plum.
der. They attended the primary meetings
controlled the Stale and national conven.
lions. They levied assessments, contribu.
ted to The party funds, supplied the party
cerk.hire and party platform; bribed and
inundated voters, and in the last Presiden
tial ceDpuign helped to disse inmate the
meanest party literature, and descended &c
the most cdious personalities that ever dis
eraced political canvass. And all this in
The very teeth of the present civil service
Law which republican Congress had enact
ed, and yet with characteristic insolence
thew would have the world believe that
they are the only true civil service reform
ers Why, it vas their scandalous corrup.
tion of the civil service that gave birth to
the law. 1t ill becomes them now to whine
and sneer and preach OF civil service re-
form because We have shown them up by n
perfectly proper and Legitimate nvestiga-
ton. They stand as the convicted felon in
the dock, and we look to them foc the true
gospel OF civil service reform. TO the vic
Tors belong the spois?' No. but to the vic
tore belong the responsibilities for good
government, aud it won't do TO trust the
entire de.ai of administration in the hands
of the enemy. That's what we say. Let
the doors of the civil service stand open to
citizens alike. Are We after the Offices
With SO per cent still in the bands Of the
republicans would it be considered strange
it, under democratic administration, we
had few more? After the Offices? Why,
there are but A. 600 or 5000 all told 10 Mas.
aachusetts-a large number, true, hut mere
handful TO cur party, now numbering 15O,-
600, Increasing from year TO year. After
the Offices? Nonsense! From the founda.
ton of the Commonwealth to the present
day il State affairs, as FOR quarter of e
century in the Federal service, the. demo
cratic party OF Massachusetts has lived not
only without t';e Offices, but in spite Of
them, and in spite CT them it will continue
to aurvige."